TONIGHT'S MUST-SEE

"American Idol," 7 p.m., Fox. "Idol" reaches New York City. That's supposed to be the center of show business — the place where talented people go. Tonight, we'll see how that works for "Idol."

"Oprah's Roots: An African American Lives Special," 8 p.m., PBS. Oprah Winfrey was a troubled 14-year-old when her mother made a difficult choice. She sent the girl down to Nashville to live with her father and find a more structured life. What Winfrey didn't realize was that she was returning to a tradition of family accomplishment. Her great-grandfather had bought and expanded a farm shortly after the end of slavery. On one corner of his farm he had a school for black children. Her grandfather was a quiet man who seemed deferential to whites. When the famed "Freedom Summer" came to Mississippi, however, he risked his life by housing civil rights activists and helping rebuild a cottage that had been torched. And her father was a no-nonsense man. When she brought home a less than stellar report card, he said flatly that there would be no more C's in his home. It was a first step toward an A-plus life. This special by Henry Louis Gates Jr. does a lot of meandering before getting to its best points. Along the way, it profiles the quiet people who helped shape a powerful life.

OF NOTE

"Friday Night Lights," 7 p.m., NBC. The Panthers are one win from the play-offs but have big obstacles, including the danger that someone will learn about Smash's use of performance-enhancing drugs. Meanwhile, the paralyzed Jason Street rethinks his relationship with his ex-girlfriend, who is going on a date. And Tyra takes action concerning her troubled mom.

"The George Lopez Show" season-opener, 7 p.m., ABC. George's family is in transition. His daughter, not seen tonight, is heading to college. His wife is worrying about a pregnancy test. And his mom is going to the jail. The result is an interesting show, without being terribly funny; still, it's good to have Lopez back on the air.

"According to Jim," 7:30 p.m., ABC. The women bare their breasts for a "Chicks Gone Wild" video. Jim does not greet this cheerfully.

"Knights of Prosperity," 8 p.m., ABC. During a job interview, Rockefeller Butts has $150,000 to deliver. Now the gang debates dropping their previous plan and simply having him steal the money.

"In Case of Emergency," 8:30 p.m., ABC. In a funny episode we learn more about the financial troubles of Jason (David Arquette). He faces a subpoena.

"The Naked Trucker & T-Bones Show," 8:30 p.m., Comedy Central. Last week, this show got off to a clever start. Tonight's episode, by comparison, is sort of adequate. T-Bones has a film, showing how he was — in his view — given the key to a city by a mayor. In one of the show's funnier moments we see the time the guys picked up a hitchhiker who claimed to be a bear.

"Medium," 9 p.m., NBC. Allison has visions of two ghosts. She also has a problem: One of the two doesn't want to help find his killer.